Battery/charging issues

[mannock18]

Was on my way home from work yesterday and the 'storm cut out at the lights. Pushed the starter button straight away to restart and the battery was dead. Started from a bump on a very conveniantly placed slope! Bike then behaved. Today I've put the meter across the terminals and theres about 19.5v coming out. I guess its safe to say my r/r's kaput. i'm conna go with the finned replacement from Yamaha. Does anyone know if a Thundercat one will fit, it's a 1996/2001 600cc model. I won't be able to get it for a couple of days, so I hope the bike will carry on for a few more days!

[benny hedges]

er, if you intend to use the bike for a bit, charge it overnight but leave the black lead off the battery until you want to run it or it will probably flatten it for you.
and avoid using your lights!

might be an idea to take some jump leads under the seat.
my other bike did same 1 mile onto the m56 at midnight - with no tax on it lol....
was praying i got rescued before a patrol came along

whereabouts are you btw - someone might have a spare r/r - like me

i wouldnt personally use it with 19.5 in case you lose the cdi or worse.
at least it will crouton the battery.

[mannock18]

Mine was a similar panic regards the plod. I live in Canterbuy, Kent and had just pulled off the M2 when she died. Whilst I was at the side of the slip road a police car came along but fortunately it was a military one!

I've got to take the risk of using it as I'm on a training program in Swanley fo the next 2 weeks and the storm is my only transport. I can get the thundercat r/r for 15quid on a buy it now on fleabay. Paydays next Friday but hopefully paypal will let the payment go! Thats if the thundercat kit will do the job

[tony.mon]

Thundercat one should be ok; pretty much all bikes over 250 or so have a three-phase generator which needs a three- phase half-wave rectifier, and a regulator to reduce the output to a suitable voltage for a 12v battery.

It's the regulator bit that goes on the Honda ones, I suppose that you could just connect the regulator bit from another unit to drop your voltage, but it's probably not worth the faffing about; just replace the whole thing.

Typically, there'll be three wires of the same colour plus a ground (meter it it find out which it is) and an output to the battery. The three similar-coloured ones can be connected any way round.

Make sure it's firmly bolted to a large component, frame, subframe etc. Best place is where the old one is, under rear plastic seat panels on the RH side.

[mannock18]

Thanks to both of you for your advice. Just paid £18 inc. post for the Yam one. Fingers crossed now!!

[mannock18]

Hi have got the r/r through now and have installed this morning and when I put the wires on put the red/green wrong way round. Ignition was off and not turned on at any point. Have now got wires on right way. Now when I turn on the ignition theres now no lights on. Have checked the fuses and none seen to have blown. So I tried with the original Honda r/r and no power with this one either. Anyone got any sugestions? I'm getting a bit worried as I need the bike for work tomorrow!

[tony.mon]

Probably flattened the battery with connecting it wrongly- possibly dead short.

Try charging battery with it disconnected.

Then chase connections form the battery to see what's getting current without the r/r/ plugged in.

My number is 01732 762460, I'm in Sevenoaks if that helps.

Cheers,
Tony

[mannock18]

Thanks Tony, Battery is showing as fully charged, However I found a fuse sneakily hidden at the starter relay and its blown so0 fingers crossed thats it. Off to Halfrauds and I'll repost with the result!

[mannock18]

RESULT!!!!!
All lights are on. Bike starts. Correct charge going to battery. And I now am aware that theres a main fuse not in the fuse box. All in all a productive couple of hours!
I might upgrade now to a YTX14 battery now cos the old one wasnt holding too well.
Thanks for your help Tony

[tony.mon]

Well done , only prob is you now have to go to work tomorrow....